Former Quincy restaurateur to stand trial on sex charges

A judge ruled last week there is enough evidence for a former Quincy restaurateur to stand trial on a felony charge of committing a sex act on a child.

Patrick Michael Le Coq is scheduled for arraignment March 29 in Plumas County Superior Court.

Le Coq, owner of the now shuttered Café Le Coq, is accused of committing a lewd and lascivious act on his daughter, who was 5 years old when the incident allegedly took place June 25, 2012.

Judge Michael Ervin heard more than three hours of testimony from three witnesses during a pre-trial examination Thursday, March 7.

The evidence included testimony by the girl’s mother, Donata Smith, who said she walked into the room and saw the alleged act taking place. Smith and Le Coq are not married, but were living together at the time of the alleged incident.

The judge also heard a recorded interview of Le Coq, conducted by a sheriff’s detective June 26, and a video recording of the victim being interviewed by a social worker that same day.

Donata Smith, county social worker Leslie Mohawk and detective Mike Smith were all questioned by District Attorney David Hollister and Public Defender Douglas Prouty.

In his interview with Detective Smith, Le Coq said repeatedly that he did not remember the incident that allegedly occurred about 9:30 p.m. Both he and Donata Smith said he had been drinking beer and “puffing” marijuana during that day.

When the attorneys each asked Donata Smith why she didn’t report the incident until the following day, she said, “I never called the police because I didn’t see this as a legal matter.”

She said she contacted a local therapist the next morning. The therapist reportedly contacted the department of social services. A representative from that department then contacted the sheriff’s office.

“I was surprised when police officers arrived,” she said. “I was seeking counseling. I didn’t think of the legal consequences of this.”

Le Coq has been held at the Plumas County jail on $50,000 bail since his arrest June 26, 2012.